Why Puppetry?

Hands-on activities, imagination, interaction, singing, laughing, sharing . . . these are the very stuff of puppetry, and don't we all need them? 

The mission of Acorn & Rose is to contribute to the well-being of children and their grownups by providing old-fashioned yet time-proven activities, inspiration, and surprising opportunities for self-expression.  Attending a live puppet show that is designed with audience participation in mind is one step in the process. Learning how to make and use puppets, interacting with puppets at school, home or hospital offers many more special gifts  - all in the guise of playing!    

Throughout time, people of all cultures have created and used puppets, finding a power kin to magic as they engender open, trusting, honest communication between a puppeteer and her audience. Children of every culture and background play with puppets freely, stretching their minds and articulating their thoughts, using their hands, voices, language. Oftentimes a child will speak far more freely to a puppet than to another person.  Puppets are unique as a tool for self-expression, for use in conflict resolution and for dealing in appropriate ways with the emotional challenges and power struggles that arise during our human days. Frequent use of puppets in daily life is a jumpstart for children to develop truthful relationships with peers and adults, greatly enriching their personal growth and development.

By introducing and sharing the benefits of puppetry, parents and teachers will find them invaluable as educational tools - for any and all academic subjects. Children learn quickly when subjects are introduced to them by puppets, and they love the fun of sharing what they have learned by having puppets act out or speak for them.

Puppets may be made very simply, they may be bought, or they may be made carefully and slowly with time and training. In teaching children on a day-to-day basis, the art matters far less than intent, content and heart to heart communication. The word "amateur" is derived from the French "amare," to love. And to me, that is the greatest use any puppet can have. 

Please contact us to schedule a puppet show or workshop.

 I want to help children grow to be Big and Rich - Big enough

 to give and Rich in things that have no price.

Nancy Tyndall, Puppeteer